Using software like PowerQuest's Drive Image or Norton's Ghost, you can make an EXACT image of either of your OS's ( Operating Systems ) so if anything goes wrong that would require a re-install, you only need to restore the backup image
Depending on the size of your Image, you'll be back up & running in 5-10 min's, I find that a much better option as opposed to my 2-4 days of re-installing E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G  A-L-L  O-V-E-R  A-G-A-I-N arrrrr I'm getting shudder's just thinking about it

These programs will not allow you to write an image to the source partition. In other words, the image's source & destination partitions cannot be the same.
This would mean you'd be changing the contents of the partition as you created the image .. which is not possible, for that reason, your Hard-Drive need's to have at least 1 extra partition

Other good reasons for making an Image/s???

I like to PLAY, trying out new/different software all the time, some programs should be flushed into oblivion never to be seen again they cause so many headache's
I tried a program not long ago, it showed great potential, but when I rebooted, my machine went into a continuous loop of error message's, starting up in safe mode the error message's would continue, 'deltreeing' the programs folder did no good as well, no worries, I just restored a known good image, all traces of it were COMPLETELY gone
If you get hit by a virus/trojan, why spend valuable time getting rid of it and still run the risk of leaving traces of it behind
You got kid's? I see a few knowing nod's there *LOL*
The younger one's can't quite grasp the idea of computer's but you can't keep them off it when they see their older sibling's having fun playing games, it's just not fair, and of course, young kid's and computer's are a recipe for disaster
With an Imaging program, we can take it in our stride, continue educating them & quickly repair the damage they might do
There are many benefit's, I'm sure you can think of other excellent reasons yourself

There's no absolute perfect way of how/when to create an image, that comes down to personal choice and trial and error
I myself like to do a fresh no tweaking/customisation install of my OS, I then create an image so if I ever need to, I have an Image that saves me the approx 1hr to do a re-install
I then install all my hardware driver's, programs I use all the time eg: Word Processor - Anti Virus etc, any update/patch's & then do another image, this gives me an Image to restore that's exactly how I want my machine
Those 2 Image's then get burnt to CD so they're not taking up room on my Hard-Drive, but I test them off the CD before deleting from the Hard-Drive
*NOTE*
It is possible now to create your image and send it straight to CD, but I'm still sceptical about Burning software's ability to work right in Dos and prefer to send the Image to Hard-Drive then burn to CD, that's not to say you have to do it that way, if you feel comfortable sending straight to CD, go for it Ö¿Ö again, there's no right or wrong way, it's your call

For my 3rd Image, I connect to the Net and bring my AV completely up to date, I don't do any surfing...check email...nothing, hell, I don't even load up a Browser window, this way I know my Image is 100% virus/trojan free
This Image I leave on my Hard-Drive and when it's time to update my AV again, I restore the Image & again connect to the Net ( nothing else ), update, do a complete Virus scan of my system & create a new Image
I usually keep 3 consecutive AV update Image's on my Hard-Drive, on the 4th Image, I delete the oldest
Well that's just an idea to get you going

Creating

There's no need to install the program, just create the Dos boot ( Rescue ) disk's, look for the folder called 'Rescueme', you'll find the 'Setup.exe' needed to create the floppies, PowerQuest's Drive Image requires 2 floppies

With this Tutorial I'll basically just give you step x step instruction's, once you've got the hang of it you can do all the experimenting/familiarisation you want

With PowerQuest's Drive Image Dos boot disk's, boot your machine
When the program has started, click Create Image

Put a check next to the Partition with the OS you want to create the Image of

Click Next

Type the Path to save to including the name of the Image you'll be creating

Under Image File Comments you can type a 'short' description of your Image, handy if you create more than one Image over time ( see my example )

When you're ready, click Next

Select High, this will compress your Image file to the smallest size possible

Click Next

For Advanced options, read the Help

Click Finish and your Image will be created

Go and make yourself a cuppa here..... just kidding =8)

When it's finished, click Exit, remove the floppy and re-boot by holding down CTRL-ALT and hit Del (delete)

Restoring

Restoring your Image is basically the reverse of Creating

Boot your machine with the PowerQuest Drive Image Dos boot disk's and click Restore Image

Type the Path to your Image file or Browse to it

When your Image file is loaded, click Next

Highlight the Partition you're going to restore to and click Next

In the next prompt you can choose between Fast Mode or Safe Mode, they're self explanatory and your call, when you've decided click Next to continue

Click Finish & DI will restore your good Image

When it's finished, you'll be asked if you want to see the results, have a look the 1st time 'round to satisfy your curiosity, but otherwise just click No and continue

Exit out, remove the floppy ( or CD ) & re-boot

Restore all your backup DATA and away you go, much easier than doing a re-install hey???